News

70th Anniversary Service at Fleshwick Beach on Good Friday, 19th April 2019

Rushen Silver Band held a 70th Anniversary Service at Fleshwick Beach on Good Friday, 19th April 2019. The event was a historical nod to a tradition from the 1940s, when the Surby Silver Band annually held a service at the beach on Good Friday. Surby Silver Band changed its name to Rushen Silver Band in 1949.

Thanks in particular to Reverend Chris Bellfield, the members of Ballafesson Chapel, the Friends of the Band and Daniel at Play Station Child Care for the help in making the event such a success.

Rushen Endowment Fund concert

The band's concert at Rowany Golf Club on 1st March raised £800 for the Rushen Endowment Fund. The photograph shows Band President Pat Crebbin with members of the Golf Club and the Rushen Endowment Committee.

Christmas Concert 2018

Tickets for this are now SOLD OUT. We will be operating a waiting list system for those who have been unable to purchase tickets so far. Please contact Graeme (details on poster) to add your name to the list. Alternatively, the band will be at over 15 engagements between the start of December and Christmas Day, so anyone not able to attend the Christmas Concert will have lots of opportunities to hear us during the festive period.

It's that time of year again when the band are busy rehearsing for the Christmas Concert and the rest of the festive season. This year our own Christmas Concert takes place on Saturday 2nd December at Rushen Primary School. We are delighted to say that our friends at Meadowside Choral Society are joining us for the event. Tickets are £7.50, £1 for under 18s, and are available on the door. Please join us for what is always an entertaining evening.

Gala Concert - Richard Evans and soloist Bobby Corkish - October 2017

Rushen Silver Band’s concert on 21st October with guest conductor Richard Evans and soloist Bobby Corkish raised a brilliant total of £1,364. The money will be split between The Salvation Army and The Chris Lucas Trust.

Tom Sinden, chairman of the band “We are very grateful to Richard, Bobby, the Friends of Rushen Silver Band and everyone that attended the concert for making it such a memorable evening. The event was funded by the Alistair Drinkwater Memorial Fund, so every penny of the total will be split between the two charities. The Salvation Army do a lot of work on the island to help the more vulnerable in our community, while The Chris Lucas Trust funds research in to defeating the cancer that afflicted Alistair, so it is terrific to be able to help both causes through Alistair's Fund.”

August 2017

Rushen Silver Band represent Isle of Man at Celtic Festival

Rushen Silver Band attended the Festival Interceltique de Lorient in France during August as part of the delegation representing the Isle of Man.

The festival, founded in 1971, features participants from all the world's Celtic nations, and attracts nearly one million spectators over 10 days each August.

This year, Rushen Silver Band performed as part of the interceltic nights in the town's main stadium. These showpiece events take place on five days during the festival, featuring acts from multiple nations, and attract an audience of around 10,000 people each night.

The band also took part in the Grand Parade, with over 70 acts parading through the town through an estimated 80,000-strong crowd.

Towards the end of the festival the band took to the water for the maritime parade - performing on a traditional fishing vessel as it joined over 50 other boats in a trip in to Lorient’s central harbour. The Band performed Harvest of the Sea, Ellan Vannin and the Manx National Anthem as the vessel sailed in to port.

In addition to the larger events, the Band led other parades through the town, and performed concerts at the 2,500-seater Espace Marine, the Breizh Outdoor Stage, at a local residential home and outside the Manx Pavilion.

Throughout the week it is estimated that the band performed around 150,000 people and several of the events were also featured on French TV.

Tom Sinden, Chairman of Rushen Silver Band said, “The Band would like to put on record their thanks to the Festival Interceltique de Lorient and Culture Vannin for the invitation and their assistance with the event. The festival is a great platform for the Isle of Man to perform to people from all over the world, and the band are honoured to have represented the Island once again.”

26 July 2017 - John Crebbin

It is with a huge amount of sadness that the band report the passing of John Crebbin. Known affectionately as Diddles, or simply Dids, John has been part of the band family for over 70 years. A life member of the band, he served as Chairman, Secretary and Assistant Secretary over the years, and most recently as Band President. It is not possible to overstate John's value to the band. We would simply like to say thanks Dids, you leave behind a vast number of happy memories for so many people, and we hope you enjoy a much earned rest.

19 June 2017

Join your local community brass band!

Have you ever wanted to learn a brass or percussion instrument? If so, Rushen Silver Band has spaces for young and old to learn and has organised a special family-friendly concert on Friday 23rd June at Rushen Primary School to help people find out more. Admission is free to all – no need to book in advance – just come along on the night.

The concert starts at 6.30pm and will last about 45 minutes. The music will include familiar music from stage and screen, and there will be a chance for potential new recruits and parents to talk to band members about playing and learning, plus a chance to have a go at playing an instrument afterwards too.

Tom Sinden, Chairman of Rushen Silver Band:-

“This is for people of any age who might like to learn to play a brass instrument, parents looking for learning opportunities for children, or people who used to play a brass instrument and would like to return to playing - we’d welcome you getting in touch for a friendly chat after the concert – and try out an instrument too if you’d like.

“Over the years there’s been a number of players who joined the band while at school have gone on to study music at universities and colleges and pursued musical careers in the Armed Forces and it’s great that we’re able to provide support early on. It’s also great to see how they keep in touch and come back to rehearsals if they’re back on the Island.”

Rushen Silver Band provides tuition for people of all ages wishing to learn a brass or percussion instrument, and runs its training band Ballafesson Brass in addition to the senior band.

The senior band performs around 40 engagements a year, ranging from Peel Pensioners Association, the Benevolent Society of Andreas, the Royal British Legion and the Last Night of the Proms to playing at Southlands Elderly Person’s Home on Christmas morning, in addition to regular weekend workshops with visiting experts – including the band’s Musical Advisor Richard Evans. In 2015 the Band was invited to play at the L’Orient Interceltique Festival in France – and has again been asked to participate later this Summer.

Anyone who is unable to make the concert and would be interested to get involved please contact the Band Secretary, Peter Faragher on 493193.

Rushen Silver Band Annual Dinner 2017

Bradda Glen Restaurant, Port Erin

Saturday 4 March 2017

7pm for 7.30pm

Menu

Leek & Potato Soup

Melon with Red Berries

Brussels Pate & French Bread

*****

Carvery of Roast Meats

Vegetarian Option (please ask when booking)

Both served with Roast Potatoes and Seasonal Vegetables

*****

Chocolate Mousse

Cheesecake

Meringue Swans

*****

Tickets Priced at £25

Please contact Jo Kinley for tickets:

31 Erin Way, Port Erin, IM9 6EF

Tel: 835917 Mob: 407141

Email: joannakinley@yahoo.co.uk

Oe’ill Voirrey – Kerrowkeil Chapel, 4 January 2017

The band took part in the annual Oe’ill Voirrey service at Kerrowkeil Chapel on Wednesday 4 January. The event is held on the old Manx Christmas Eve, and is always very well attended. According to some records, the chapel at Kerrowkeil is the oldest on the island still in regular use as a place of workship, and 2017 marked the seventieth occasion on which the band have performed at the Oe’ill Voirrey.

The 2016 festive period was yet another busy one for the band. The season started with our own Christmas Concert on Saturday 26 November, finished on 4 January with the Oe’ill Voirrey service at Kerrowkeil Chapel. The season featured 20 engagements for the band including events in Port Erin, Port St Mary, Ballafesson, Colby, Ballabeg and Ballasalla, as well as Southlands Residential Home on Christmas Day itself.

The run up to Christmas represents the band’s busiest part of the year, and we would like to thank the band members and their families, collectors and other supporters for their commitment and support over the period.